The house where I'm moving to in Crystal City, VASo now I'm faced with a difficult decision of driving or flying and I'm looking for advice from the readers. I've had some people say it's the chance of a lifetime to drive across country on somebody else's dime (I have a relocation allowance) and then I've had other people tell me a drive that long would be "torture" and "idiotic". Let me paint the picture:
- I can fly out on Jan 3 ($500) and have my car shipped up ($1900) for a grand total of $2400.
- I can drive across the country with my brother Des B. for the cost of gas ($50 x 9 gal = $450) + Motel ($100 x 4 nights = $400) + Food ($60 x 5 days = $300) + Flight back for Des B ($500) for a grand total of roughly $1650.
- Day 1 (Dec 30): Phoenix to San Antonio
- Day 2 (New Years Eve): New Orleans
- Day 3 (Jan 1): Pensacola, FL, and Charleston, SC
- Day 4 (Jan 2): Outer Banks, NC
- Day 5 (Jan 3): Washington DC
4 comments:
As I will be posed with a similar dilema this summer, minus a relocation allowance and plus a wife and baby, I am curious to see how the drive goes and if it is indeed worth the hassle. Since Desi has been known in his youth to display similar attitudes of women and children (like when you drop him on his braces and he cries all night about it) I feel he will be a good indicator of how the wife and child would hold up.
I don't know if I can suggest one or the other, but let me bring up some points. The drive would definitely be an experience--a miserable one if it were by yourself, but with a loved one like Desmond at your side it will be something the two of you share and will reflect upon for years to come. If it were during baseball season I would say hands down, do it--you could make a ballpark across America tour out of it. You could try and arrange some stops at some NBA arenas, however. The thing that would hold me back the most would be the weather--with all these ice storms going on--however I notice that you are taking a southern route that might allow you to avoid that. Now New Orleans on New Years with Des and all of his "people" down there in the south, that sounds like that could be a real hoot! So never mind me not making any suggestions--Do it baby, do it!
I don't feel particularly strong either way, though I did vote that you should fly. But I am now thinking that you should drive with Des. Your dilemma, however, is not the most important issue. The most important issue is that you took the apartment I was going to try and rent. It looked great to me and Jo--apparently to you too. Anyway, I called just after you solidified the deal. What are the chances? I am glad you are in it and not some goober. That would make me feel sad.
And one more thought about your fly/drive decision. If you are ever going to see the land of the United States, now is the time. Flying is becoming easier and more and more affordable. Take the drive. You can talk to Des about what it means to be a commissioner.
I vote drive under the condition that Billy Idol's "flesh for fantasy" be played at least five times on the trip.
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